Ale-tap



(Hommel.)

, l S. VAN HBNNIK. ALBTAP.

y Patented Oct. 16, 1894.

W/TNESSES: /NVENTOH @JQ/6% ,MMM ff #e A TTOR/VEYS.

UNITED STATES:

PATENT Omen,

SEBASTIAN' VAN EEN-NIK, OF* YONK-ERS, NEW YORK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Batent No. 527,739fdated Qctoloer,` 16, 18,94.

Application led January 20 1894. Serial No. 497,526. (No model.)

To LZZ whom t may concer-n.;

Be it known that I, SEBASTIAN VAN HEN- and State ofNew York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Ale Taps, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to an improved ale or beer tapping device, of a class wherein a valve case and valve is provided, the device being secured in the cask as a fixture and normally sealing the receptacleI a tapping faucet engag" ing the sealing valve so as to open it when the cask is tapped.- l

The object of my invention is to provide novel features 'of improvement in a device of the character indicated, which will afford a convenientand reliable ale tap, that willbe protected from obstruction in service, and that eankbe quickly secured in or removed fromv a cas Y To this end my invention consists in the construction and combination of parts, asis hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar figures of reference indicate corresponding` parts in all the views shown.

Figure l is a partly sectional plan view of the improved ale tap and connected parts, on the line 1-1 in Fig. 2, thesealing valve being in open adj ustment. Fig.'2 isla sectional side view, mainly on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1, showing the connected parts of the devicein open adjustment. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectionalI view, on the line` 8-3 in Fig. 2. Fig.` 4 is a transverse sectional view, on the line Aly-a in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view on the same line as Fig. 3, showing a diiierent adjustment of interlocking portions; and Fig. 6 is a side view in part, of a novel detail of construction. l

The shell 10, that is provided to contain the lsealing valve of the device, consists of a cylindrical, metallic piece of suitable dimensions, the exterior of which is threaded as at 10*L to permit a screwed connection to be produced between the shell and the apertured head of a cask or like receptacle.

The shell is longitudinally and axially perforated inn two diameters, the larger bore 10b of a true cylindrical form, extending from one end of the shell to a point therein near ,its longitudinal center. NIK, of Yonkers, in the county of Westchester jl From the bottonir wall of the bore l0", a

smaller orifice is centrally extended through the remaining portion of the shell, and ta;v pered toward the end of the shelLthat is perforated by said coniforrn orifice.

Aplug valve 1l, is fitted iny the coniforrn central orifice ofthe shell 10, so as to permit rotation of the same, and4 eect a liquid tight joint between the engaged surfaces of said parts the conical portion of thev shell thus forming a valve seat.v

The plug valve 11, is axially perforated vfrom its largest end toward and near to the smaller. terminal, as `shown at l1, in Fig. 2,

, thevalve` 11, near the terminal wall of the axial perforation 11, and mating apertures 1l,

arey oppositely formed 'in the wall 10, thus affording communication between the annular channel 10d, and the longitudinal perforation 1l, of the tubular plug valve thus formed. A

A preferably dome-shaped cap 14, is screwed to the end of the shell 10, as yrepresented in Figs. 1 and 2, said' cap having its comparatively thin wall numerously perforated to produce a screen that will arrest hops or otherk impurities which may be in the cask that is providedv with the improved tap.

A portion of the plug valve 1.1, projects into the bore 10b, and on the peripheral surface of this end portion three evenly spaced ears or radial shoulders 11c areoutward-ly projected in the saine transverse planenear the bottom wall of the said bore, a cylindrical portion of the plug valve being 'extended beyond these ears.

Within the bore l0,b of the shell 10, and equally distant from itsouter end, three lock- IOO ing studs 1G, are inwardly projected therefrom, and evenly separated from each other.

lhe parts that have been described, are normally connected with one another, the shell being inserted liquid tight in a perforation formed to receive it in one head of a cask, and affording means to retain the liquid contents when the plug valve 11 is adjusted to eifect this object.

The improvement further consists of a tap valve attachment that is removably connected with the sealing valve shell, and by its introduction and rotatable movement is adapted to lock fast to the shell 10, aud at the same time partly revolve the plug valve 11, so as to open a passage from the eask into the body of the tap valve, and to form a tubular key for the plug valve as will be more fully described.

The tap valve consists of a mainly cylindrical body 17, that is axially perforated as at 17", and is proportioned in length to permit one end portion 17a, to enter the shell 10 a proper distance, while the other part of the body is projected therefrom, and near its outer end is fashioned to receive the transverse sealing plug 18. Said plug is of ordinary construction, and has a T-shaped head 18, whereby it may be rotated and the tap valve be opened or closed. The plug 18 has a transverse perforation 18", that if aligned with the axial passage 17", will be adapted to discharge the liquid contained in the casi; to

which the improvement is applied, such an` adjustment of the tap valve being indicated in Fig. 2.

The end portion of the tap valve body is made truly cylindrical and of a proper diameter to loosely fit within the bore 10b of the shell 10.

On the diametrically enlarged end portion of the tap valve body 17, three longitudinally extending toes or crown teeth 17C, are formed, which toes are evenly spaced apart, and have such a length, width and thickness, as will allow them to slide freely between the `radial ears 11c of the plug valve 1l, the free ends of the toes being rounded on their corners to facilitate such a connection of parts.

In orderto permit the introduction of the valve `body 17 within the bore 10b, three evenly spaced longitudinal grooves 17d, are formed in the enlarged portion of said body, which grooves intervene the toes 17e, and at their upper terminals intersect a circumferential groove. rlhe latter mentioned groove consists of a series of cam-channels 17e, that have their side walls inclined in the same direction, as indicated in Fig. 6, where two of these channels are shown. The terminal of each channel 17 e, that is nearest the end of the tap body having the toes projected from it, is interseoted by one of the longitudinal grooves 17d. Hence an insertion of the body 17 within the bore 10b, with said tap valve body adjusted so that the grooves 17d loosely receive the studs 16, will locate these studs in the cam-channels at the same time the toes 17c are interlocked with the ears 11c on the plug valve 11.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that the introduction of the tap valve body 17 as stated, will connect its inner end with the outer end or crown of the plug valve 1l, and it is essential that the relative position of parts be so arranged that the plug valve will be in closed adjustment, when the studs 1G are located at the points of intersection of the grooves 17" with the cam channels 17C.

An elastic joint ring 19, is seated in a counter-bore enlargement of the axial perforation 17b in the tap valve body 17, this counterbore extending from the bases of the toes 17c toward the smaller portion of said body. The depth of the connter-bore is so proportioned that the rounded outer end or crown of the plug valve 11, will have contact with the joint ring, when the studs 16 are entered in the cam-channels 17e, a partial rotation of the tap valve body in the direction of the curved arrow in Fig. 5, causing the studs to traverse a portion of the cam-channels and ride on their inclined side walls, that are so pitched as to draw the joint ring tightly against the engaged end or crown of the plug valve, thereby producing a tight joint between the tap valve body and the plug which joint will be hereinafter referred to as the faucet joint valve. At the same time a continuous passage for liquid is produced from the cask to the valve plug 18.

On the end portion of the tap valvebody 17, that is nearest to the sealing plug 18, a circumferential thread is cut as shown at 17g, in Figs. 1 and 2, this provision being made to permit an ordinary Linien nut to be screwed 011 the valve body, which nut (not shown) serves to connect the ale tap as an entirety with a conduit pipe, that may be extended to any desired point of discharge, as is usual in such devices, for the transfer of ale or other malt liquor from a cool vault or ice-box to the dispensing apparatus.

It is claimed for this improvement, that the peculiar construction of parts, affords convenient means for the insertion of the shell of the sealing valve within an orifice in the head of a cask, as the tap valve body may be utilized as a wrench for such a purpose.

The connection of parts between the sealing valve and tap valve is reliable, and the provision of the removable perforated cap at the inner end of the sealing valve protects the entire device from being obstructed by any floating substance that may be in the cask having the improved tapping device.

As the shoulders or projections 11c are so located upon the periphery of the valve as to lie behind the projections 16 on the inner surface of the shell and to be in longitudinal alignment therewith, when the valve is in a position to close the ports, and as the said shoulders or projections 11c are formed upon the valve behind its forward end or crown,

IIO

IIS

it win be seen thatit win tej impossible to open the valve by inserting any straight instrument and engaging it with one of the projections or shoulders on the Valve, since after a slight movement, insufficient to open the valve, the instrument used, which must, owing to the projecting crown of the valve, be held close to the wall of the shell, will impinge upon the projection 16 of the shell which is in alignment with the projection or shoulder of the valve engaged by the instrument, 'thus aiording great security and rendering the use of a tubular key necessary to open or turn the valve. It will also be seen that as the ports are located in the shield which is surrounded by the longitudinal and rearwardly extending flange of l the shell or bushing, a tap so constructed is adapted to be used with any cask or barrel, irrespective of the thickness of its head, and that as the packing ring 19 is seated in the counter bore enlargementin the tap, it is protected from the accidental or-malicious injury that might result should it be placed upon the outer end of the plug valve where it would be accessible and in full view during the transportation of the cask from point to point.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new andldesire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination,of the shell and tubular valve plug, providedwith regis-tering ports, the plug having its rear end seated in the shell, and havinga central opening in its forward end, the crown of which forms one face of the faucet joint, the plug having radially projecting shoulders formed upon the periphery behind its crown, and the shell having inwardly extending projections infront of the shoulders on the plug, and in a line therewith parallel with the axis when the ports are closed, substantially as described.

2. The combination,with the shell and tubular valve plug, provided with registering ports, the plug having its rear end seated in the shell, and having a central opening in the forward end, the crown of which forms one face of thefaucet joint, the plug having radially projecting shoulders formed upon the periphery behind its crown, and the shell having inwardly lextending projections in front ofthe shoulders on the plug and in a line therewith parallel with the axis when theports are closed, of a tubular key having a plug seat in its oneend formed by a counter bore enlargement, the shoulder formed thereby forming one face of a faucet joint, and having crown teeth-projecting longitudinally from the same end and adapted to cngage the shoulders upon the plug and to encircle the forward end thereof, the key having longitudinal external grooves upon the same end, as is provided with the teeth,and having inclined transverse grooves connected therewith, `the said longitudinal and transverse grooves being adapted to receive the projection upon the interior of the` shell, and a washer seated in the counter. b ore enlargement of the key and against the shoulder therein substantially as described.`

SEBASTIAN VAN HENNIK. Witnesses:

WM. P. PATTON, JNO. M. RITTER. 

